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“…Ah.”
After hearing the answer, Do Junseo let out something between a sigh and a groan before lowering his head.
Everyone in the room shared the same wish:
Please let time move faster.
They wanted to know how the album was performing.
Not a single album B the 1 had ever released had managed to chart within the Top 1000.
And yet, every release day, the members gathered together just like this, each checking the rankings on their phones.
Just in case.
Maybe this time.
Someone might have mocked them for still holding onto such hope after years of mediocre results, but without the dream of climbing higher, they could never have continued being idols for this long.
They could have checked the rankings separately in their rooms.
Instead, they always gathered together.
This time, thanks to Crescent Flower, their older songs had even climbed back up the charts.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
The ranking would be a little higher than before.
Even the casual jokes they had been exchanging died down.
“It’s time.”
Nobody even knew who had spoken.
Simultaneously, Eunchan and the other members opened their phones and entered the streaming sites.
They selected the real-time Top 100 chart and began scrolling.
Then—
“Gasp.”
Someone sucked in a sharp breath.
“W-What is this? Seriously?”
“What?”
“Look! Peanut Music—We’re 25th!”
“What?! No way!”
Moon Saebyeol practically shouted in excitement.
Meanwhile, Eunchan was checking Watermelon Chart.
Unlike before, the newly reorganized chart allowed users to browse from Rank 1000 upward, so he was working his way back.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
His thumb moved upward.
The song wasn’t there.
Still nothing.
Surely we didn’t make the Top 200.
That was impossible.
Right?
He had expected too much.
Charting on Watermelon wasn’t some easy feat.
Eunchan exhaled through parted lips and swiped again.
Then—
“…Huh?”
His finger froze.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
As if he couldn’t believe what he’d just seen.
Among music platforms, Watermelon was notoriously difficult to chart on.
And yet…
“89th…?”
“Where?”
“…Watermelon.”
The room instantly fell silent.
The smiles vanished from the members’ faces.
Disbelief replaced them.
Without a word, Eunchan held out his phone.
Everyone crowded around.
Their eyes locked onto the screen.
For several long seconds, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then—
“WOOOOOOAAAHHHHHH!”
Every single member screamed.
Even Ryu Seo-oh.
Something unbelievable had happened.
Something impossible.
Watermelon Chart Debut — Rank 89
Someone might ask why they were making such a fuss over Rank 89 instead of Rank 1.
But to B the 1…
It was a miracle.
The members grabbed one another and jumped around the living room.
Like seven-year-old children.
It was the 822nd day since B the 1’s debut.
The day of their comeback stage finally arrived.
It felt strange.
He was excited.
But he wasn’t nervous.
Nor was he afraid.
Calling it peaceful felt odd, but that was the closest description.
If he had to compare it to something…
It felt like the night before a school field trip.
Even Eunchan found the comparison ridiculous.
A field trip? Really?
Still, he couldn’t think of anything more fitting.
Compared to the past, the difference was shocking.
Back then, he had been so nervous that he couldn’t sleep.
His makeup hadn’t sat properly.
He couldn’t think straight.
Negative thoughts had piled up one after another.
By the time he stepped on stage, it would’ve been stranger if he hadn’t collapsed.
But now things were different.
Maybe it was because his mental resilience had grown.
More than anything, he wanted to hurry onto the stage and meet the fans.
The other members seemed to feel similarly.
Though they appeared slightly more nervous than he was.
After quickly finishing his preparations, Eunchan looked toward Hyun Wooyoung, who was waiting for the others.
Wooyoung, fully styled and prepared, was breathtaking.
Even another man couldn’t help admiring him.
What on earth did he eat growing up to look like that?
At this point, Eunchan wasn’t even jealous anymore.
He was simply impressed.
As he stared, their eyes met.
“What?”
“I was trying to decide whether I should thank you.”
“For what?”
Wooyoung tilted his head, completely confused.
After watching Eunchan’s expression for a moment, he spoke again.
“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to respond when you call me handsome.”
“…Who did?”
“You did, Eunchan hyung.”
Eunchan froze.
“…Did I say that out loud?”
“Yes.”
Ahhh!
Judging by Wooyoung’s expression, he wasn’t joking.
There was no benefit in making up something like that.
Eventually, Eunchan concluded that he’d simply let his thoughts escape while spacing out.
Well.
What was done was done.
Trying to deny it now would only make things weirder.
“But you really are handsome.”
“…”
For someone who normally seemed unshakable, Wooyoung suddenly looked away.
Wait.
Is he embarrassed?
“Haven’t you heard that a lot? I’d think you’d be completely used to it by now.”
“I have.”
“Wow. So you’re admitting it.”
Eunchan’s teasing made Wooyoung look unfairly accused.
“If I deny it, you’ll just refuse to believe me.”
“That’s true.”
Eunchan answered immediately.
Wooyoung’s gaze changed slightly.
Eunchan could tell exactly what he was thinking.
This guy is unbelievable.
“Sorry. I was joking just now. But when I said you were handsome earlier, I meant it. I was spacing out and accidentally said what I was thinking.”
“You meant the handsome part?”
“Yeah. So just ignore it. You said you hear it all the time anyway.”
Feeling he’d teased enough, Eunchan lightly patted Wooyoung’s arm.
The conversation seemed over.
Until Wooyoung grabbed his wrist.
“Why are your clothes so loose? Did you lose weight?”
“Huh?”
Wooyoung’s observation was accurate.
Compared to the measurements taken during the concept photo shoot, Eunchan’s size had decreased noticeably.
He hadn’t exercised more than usual.
He hadn’t eaten less.
Yet he’d still lost weight.
He’d even needed extra holes punched into his belt just to make today’s pants fit.
Holding Eunchan’s wrist, Wooyoung rolled his sleeve all the way up to his elbow.
The sudden action left Eunchan staring blankly.
Then he jumped.
“Ack! What are you doing?!”
It was embarrassing.
And somehow ticklish.
He tried pulling his arm away, but it wasn’t easy.
“What, are you showing off your strength now? I’m older than you, you know.”
“…What are you even talking about?”
Wooyoung looked dumbfounded.
His grip loosened.
Eunchan immediately snatched his arm back and fixed his sleeve.
“Did you eat breakfast?”
“Of course.”
“What did you eat?”
For a moment, Eunchan felt like he was being interrogated.
Still, it wasn’t exactly a strange question.
“…Toast?”
After thinking back, he answered uncertainly.
“The one Saebyeol hyung put strawberry jam on?”
“Yeah.”
Wooyoung frowned.
“You’re planning to perform on stage after eating only bread? Isn’t today the first time you’ll see the fans in a while?”
He had a point.
But they needed to leave for the broadcasting station immediately.
Eunchan figured he could grab something during rehearsal breaks.
“I’ll eat there. They have a cafeteria. You’ve never been to a broadcasting station cafeteria, right? Let’s go together.”
Right then, the other members finished preparing and emerged.
“Did you wait long? Weirdly enough, you two finished first.”
“Not long. Let’s go.”
The conversation ended there.
The members headed for the broadcasting station.
“Oh, right. About that Face App stream.”
Do Junseo suddenly spoke up.
“Do we really not need to correct that misunderstanding?”
“I already talked to Cosmos about it.”
After answering, Ryu Seo-oh turned toward him.
“The misunderstanding created by Mr. Do Junseo, who mistook a chair scraping the floor for a fart.”
“…Hyung, that’s so unfair. I swear that’s what it sounded like at the time!”
“He’s right. It really did.”
Moon Saebyeol joined in.
Seo-oh glanced at him and shook his head.
“The two of you caused the chaos, and Eunchan and I had to clean it up.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
Saebyeol and Junseo immediately bowed and offered formal thanks.
Even Minyu joined in.
The truth behind the incident was simple.
Junseo had heard the sound of a chair scraping against the floor and mistaken it for a fart.
That was enough to make him laugh first.
Saebyeol, who had heard the sound and tried to hold it in, eventually broke down laughing too.
As for Minyu…
He confessed that hearing the others quietly giggling made him laugh despite not knowing the reason.
Ideally, they should have explained everything that very day.
Unfortunately…
It was far too late now.
You think this chapter was thrilling? Wait until you read Did Mr. Villain Cross Into the Wrong Book?! Click here to discover the next big twist!
Read : Did Mr. Villain Cross Into the Wrong Book?
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